Dianthus plant named ‘WP19 VAL01’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘WP19 VAL01’ that is characterized by a compact mounding habit, semi-double yellow flowers, blooming from May through October, with a medium, clove-like fragrance, glaucous blue-green foliage, suitable for use as a flowering plant in pots and containers as well as for use as a cut flower and in bouquets, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus x allwoodii hort.

Variety denomination: ‘WP19 VAL01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardyDianthus, commonly known as Garden Pink, which is grown for use as aflowering plant for pots and containers and for planting in the gardenand landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Dianthus xallwoodii hort. and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name‘WP19 VAL01’.

‘WP19 VAL01’ is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of along-term breeding program conducted in a cultivated area of Dawlish,Devon, United Kingdom. ‘WP19 VAL01’ was selected in 2016 for its yellowsemi-double flowers, medium clove-like fragrance and glaucous blue-greenfoliage.

‘WP19 VAL01’ arose and was selected as a seedling which resulted fromthe controlled pollination of two prior selections of Dianthus. The maleparent is Dianthus code name ‘VAL 13.01’ (unpatented and unreleased) andthe female parent is Dianthus code name ‘VAL 09.01’ (unpatented andunreleased). The male parent and female parent had both grown within theinventor's stock of breeding lines.

Asexual reproduction of ‘WP19 VAL01’ was first accomplished in 2016 in acultivated area of Dawlish, United Kingdom using the propagation methodof shoot cuttings. ‘WP19 VAL01’ has been determined to be stable andreproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘WP19 VAL01’. ‘WP19 VAL01’has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climaticand cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘WP19 VAL01’ exhibits a dense, compact mounding habit.    -   2. ‘WP19 VAL01’ bears semi-double yellow flowers.    -   3. The petals of ‘WP19 VAL01’ are wavy.    -   4. ‘WP19 VAL01’ blooms from May through October.    -   5. The flowers of ‘WP19 VAL01’ exhibit a medium clove-like        fragrance.    -   6. ‘WP19 VAL01’ exhibits glaucous blue-green foliage.    -   7. At maturity, the height of the foliage mound of ‘WP19 VAL01’        is 35 cm, and the width is 23 cm.    -   8. ‘WP19 VAL01’ is perennial and is hardy at least to minus 15°        Centigrade.    -   9. ‘WP19 VAL01’ is suitable for use as a flowering plant in pots        and containers, and for use as a cut flower and in bouquets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Dianthus variety ‘WP19 VAL01’ showing colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘WP19 VAL01’.

FIG. 1 depicts an entire flowering plant of ‘WP19 VAL01’.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flower of ‘WP19 VAL01’.

Photographs were taken in May 2020 from a 9 months old plant which hasbeen grown in an unheated greenhouse in Dawlish, United Kingdom in a3-liter container. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Allphotographs were made using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance theyare as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘WP19VAL01’. Data was collected from plants grown in 3-liter containers underan unheated glasshouse in Dawlish, United Kingdom. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the sixth edition (2015) of TheRoyal Horticultural Society Color Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. No chemicals were used to treat theplants. Growing conditions are typical to other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus.    -   -   Variety.—‘WP19 VAL01’.        -   Species.—X allwoodii.        -   Common names.—Hybrid Dianthus, Garden Pink.        -   Commercial classification.—Hardy perennial.        -   Use.—Ornamental plant for pots and containers.-   Parentage: ‘WP19 VAL01’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the    controlled cross pollination between two Dianthus x allwoodii    plants.    -   -   Female parent plant.—‘VAL 09.01’ experimental Dianthus plant            (unpatented).        -   Male parent plant.—‘VAL 13.01’ experimental Dianthus plant            (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—May to October.        -   Plant habit.—Dense, compact mounding habit.        -   Plant height.—35 cm in overall height, including flower            canopy.        -   Plant width.—23 cm in width.        -   Plant hardiness.—Hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.        -   Type.—Perennial.        -   Root system.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using shoot            cuttings.        -   Cultural requirements.—Plant in full sun, well-drained and            moderately fertile soil and keep well fertilized and            watered.        -   Time required to produce a rooted cutting.—5 weeks are            needed to produce a rooted cutting.        -   Temperature recommended for cuttings to produce roots.—The            air temperature needed is a minimum of 15° Centigrade air            temperature and base heat of 21° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—6 to 9 months is needed to produce a finished            plant in bud and flower in a 3-litre container size from a            well-rooted cutting.-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical, solid.        -   Dimensions.—12 cm in length, 9 mm diameter.        -   Surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.        -   Color.—145B, 145C and 145D (in the sheathing zone).        -   Branching.—Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower            leaves.        -   Internode length.—Initially 5 mm to 7 mm increasing to 4            cm-6 cm towards apex.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Dimensions.—10 cm in length, 4 mm in width.        -   Color adaxial surface.—N189B and N189C.        -   Color abaxial surface.—N189B and N189C.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Curvature.—Moderately recurved (older basal foliage only).        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Decurrent.        -   Venation.—Absent on the adaxial surface and only one central            vein visible on the abaxial surface.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite and spiraling up stem.        -   Surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Strongly glaucous.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Simple cyme.        -   Type.—Semi-double, polypetalous.        -   Number.—3 to 6 per stem.        -   Position.—When fully developed, flowers are borne far above            the dense foliage mound.        -   Arrangement.—Fully developed terminal flowers borne singly            and in clusters of 2-3 flowers on some lateral branches.        -   Dimensions (including calyx).—42 to 44 mm in length and 40            to 44 mm in diameter.        -   Shape.—Circular.        -   Lastingness.—10 days at 20° Celsius on the plant; 8 to 10            days off the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Medium, clove-like.        -   Flowering period.—May to October.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical, solid.        -   Dimensions.—23 cm to 27 cm in length, 3 to 4 mm in diameter.        -   Surface.—Glabrous, waxy.        -   Strength.—Strong, rigid.        -   Color.—189B.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical, without extrusion of styles.        -   Color.—138A to 138B on apical half and 144B to 144C on basal            half (below the bracts).        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Dimensions.—23 mm in length and 10 mm in width.-   Petals:    -   -   Corolla shape, profile.—Flat convex.        -   Corolla dimensions.—20 to 24 mm in length and 40 to 44 mm in            diameter.        -   Petal arrangement.—Persistent, apopetalous and overlapping.        -   Margin.—Crenate-dentate.        -   Indentations.—Medium in number, irregular, up to 2 mm deep.        -   Texture.—Soft.        -   Type.—Semi-double.        -   Number of petals.—15 to 20.        -   Dimensions.—38 mm in length, 25 mm in width.        -   Petal shape.—Fan shape.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petal apex.—Fan shaped, crenate-dentate.        -   Petal base.—Strap shaped, tapering towards base.        -   Color pattern.—Self-yellow with occasional pink stripes or            flecks, 56A.        -   Macules.—Absent.        -   Petal color (adaxial surface).—Ground color of blade: 2C and            3C. Color of middle of strap: 4D. Color of base of strap:            145D.        -   Petal color (abaxial surface).—Ground color of blade: 1D.            Color of middle of strap: 4D. Color of base of strap: 145C.        -   Petal color when emerging from the bud occasionally            observed.—23D.-   Calyx:    -   -   Dimensions.—23 mm in length and 12 mm in width.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical and obovate.        -   Sepals.—5, fused up to 5 mm below the apex.        -   Sepal dimensions.—24 mm in length and 7 mm in width.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Color of sepals, outer surface.—138A to 138B on apical half            and 144B to 144C on basal half (below the bracts).        -   Color of sepals, inner surface.—139D.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Splitting.—Not observed.-   Epicalyx:    -   -   Number of bracts.—1 pair of 2.        -   Bracts shape, position.—Acuminate, adpressed.        -   Bracts dimensions.—12 mm in length and 9 mm in width.        -   Bracts color.—N138A, N138B, N138C and 144B, 144C, 144D are            all present.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Number of bracteoles.—1 pair of 2.        -   Bracteoles shape, position.—Acuminate, adpressed        -   Bracteoles dimensions.—14 mm in length and 12 mm in width.        -   Bracteoles color.—N138A, N138B, N138C and 144B, 144C, 144D            are all present.        -   Bracteoles anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—10 to 15 and 0 to 5 petaloid stamen.        -   Stamen dimensions.—25 mm length and 0.5 mm diameter.        -   Color of filaments.—NN155B.        -   Anther number.—1 per stamen, 10 to 15.        -   Anther dimensions.—2 mm length and 1 mm in diameter, often            disformed.        -   Color of anthers.—155A (when fresh anthers).        -   Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed.        -   Pollen.—Absent.        -   Style number.—2        -   Style shoulder.—Absent.        -   Color of style.—NN155B.        -   Style and stigma dimensions.—25 mm to 30 mm in length and 1            mm in width.        -   Stigma number.—One on each style.        -   Stigma color.—NN155B.        -   Stigma dimensions.—12 to 15 mm long, fimbriated zone along            the top of the style.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary dimensions.—11 mm in length and 7 mm in diameter.        -   Ovary shape.—Rhombic.        -   Ovary surface and texture.—Smooth and slightly ribbed.        -   Ovary color.—144A at the uppermost surface, becoming paler            149D at the lowest surface.-   Seed: Not observed.-   Diseases and pests: Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and disease    but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease are known.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘WP19 VAL01’ is distinguishable from the male parent as follows. Theflower color of ‘VAL 13.01’ is bright orange with white stripes andflowering height is much higher.

‘WP19 VAL01’ is distinguishable from the female parent as follows. Thefemale parent ‘VAL 09.01’ bears semi-double salmon flowers with whiteflecks. The vegetative part of ‘VAL 09.01’ is also more open than ‘WP19VAL01’.

The variety of Dianthus considered to most closely resemble ‘WP19 VAL01’is Dianthus Plant Named ‘Devon Cream’ (unpatented). Both ‘Devon Cream’and ‘WP19 VAL01’ are cold-hardy varieties with similar glaucous bluegreen foliage and with flower colors in the cream-yellow range. Incomparison, the flower color of ‘Devon Cream’ is cream-yellow with palepink stripes, whereas the flower color of ‘WP19 VAL01’ is distinctlyself-yellow. In addition, whereas the plant habit of ‘WP19 VAL01’ istight and compact, the plant habit of ‘Devon Cream’ is loose and open,and plants of ‘Devon Cream’ bear much taller flower stems.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus Plant Named ‘WP19VAL01’ as described and illustrated herein.